Thrust-measuring instrument



C. MACMILLAN. THRUST MEASURiNG INSTRUMENT.

APPLIQATION FILED FEB. 14, 1919.

Patented July 20, 1920.

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' UNIT-ED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

CAMPBELL MACMILLAN, OF SGI-IELNECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGN OR TO GENERAIi .ELEGTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

,THRUS'I-MEASURING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed reb ar fm, 1919. SerialNo'; 277,073.

new and useful Improvements in Thrust- Measuring Instruments, ofwhich the following is a specification.

i The present invention relates toinstruments for measuring the axial thruston a rotating shaft and has for its object to pro- .vide an improved structure and arrangement for this purpose.

For-a consideration of what I believe to :be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanyingde'scri'ption and I the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, the figure isa sectional view of a structure embodying my inivention.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates a rotating shaft and 6 a thrust collar thereon which may be formed integral with the shaft or be a separate piece suitably fastened thereon. One application of'the invention is to measure the thrust on the propeller shaftof a ship and shaft 5 may be accordingly a propeller shaft or other shaft. Engagin thrust collar 6 is an annular thrust plate having a suitable lining 8 of. bearing 4 material and such plate is, held yieldingly in engagement with collar 6 by springs 9. In-

the present instance the thrust plate is shown as provided with a ring of spaced.

projectionslO which move in guide sockets 11 in which springs 9 are located. The springs 9 are under noinitial compression and as is obvious when an axial thrust is put on shaft 5 the springs will be compressed and there will be an axial movement of the thrust plate 7 which is proportionate to the thrust, Guidesockets 11- are carried by a head 12 which is fastened to a fixed casin 13.

To indicate the axial movement of shaft 5 and thrust plate 7 I provide a spider 14 having a knife edge center piece preferably madefrom hardstee'ljwhich enga es a bearing piece 15 set into a lever 16. ne end of lever 16 is pivoted on a spindle 17 which engages a knife edge bearing member 18 carried by head 12 and the other end of level." 16 is p ssed towar the sp der 14 by a d head 12 to spring 19. Spindle 17 projects out through an op'enmg in casing 13 and has on its end I atented July20,19j20.

an index finger 20 which moves over a scale v 21. When the thrust plate 7 moves axially lever. 16 is turned on bearing member 18 17 thereby moving index finger 20 over the scale 21.'

The above described arrangement will give an accurate measure of the thrust on a a'measurin instrument but also as athrust bearing. incethe parts are all carried by v remove the instrument requires only that such head be removed. A

7 In accordance with the provisions of th patent statutes, I have described the prin ciple of operation of my invention, together 'with the apparatus which. I'now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but

I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and'that the invention can be carried out by other means. What I cla1m as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The combination with a continuously rotating shaft which is subjected to axial thrust, of a thrust collar on theshaft, an annular thrust plate. which engages said collar, a casing, a head fixed to an end of said casing, spring means located between said head and thrust plate anddirectly engaging the thrust plate to hold it against -said thrust collar and take the thrust of the shaft, and means for indicating axial movements of the shaft and thrust plate.'

2. In a mechanism of the character described, the combination, with a. continuously rotating shaft whichis subjected to axial thrust, of a thrust collar thereon, an annular thrust plate which engages said collar, a casing, a head fixed to the casing,

compressing spring 19 and turning spindle sprmg means carried by the head and engaging said thrust plate, a spindle, an indicating pointer on the spindle, and means actuated by an axial movement of the shaft for turning said spindle.

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,In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 13th da of Februar 1919. 

